Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts
At Psalm 140
In Tone 5
- Lead my soul forth from prison* that I may give thanks to Your name.
Come, O faithful, let us fulfil the works of God in the light;
and let us walk with dignity as in the light of day;
let us tear up every unjust contract,
and let us cast aside every object of scandal for our neighbour.
Let us turn away from the pleasures of the flesh,
so that we may grow in our spiritual gifts.
Let us give food to the poor;
let us draw near to Christ, and in repentance, let us say:
O our God, have mercy on us.
- The just shall gather around me* when You have been good to me.
Come, O faithful, let us fulfil the works of God in the light;
and let us walk with dignity as in the light of day;
let us tear up every unjust contract,
and let us cast aside every object of scandal for our neighbour.
Let us turn away from the pleasures of the flesh,
so that we may grow in our spiritual gifts.
Let us give food to the poor;
let us draw near to Christ, and in repentance, let us say:
O our God, have mercy on us.
In Tone 8
- Out of the depths I cry to You, O Lord;* O Lord, hear my voice!
O martyrs of the Lord,
you sanctify all places,
and you heal all diseases.
Therefore, we implore you:
Pray that our souls be delivered from the snares of the Enemy..
- Let Yours ears be attentive* to the voice of my prayer.
O martyrs of the Lord,
we entreat you to beseech our God
and ask great mercy for our souls
and forgiveness for our many offences.
- If You mark iniquities, Lord, who can stand?* But with You forgiveness is that You may be revered.
Your martyrs, O Lord,
forgetting the things of this life
and despising torture for the sake of the life to come,
were shown to be inheritors of the eternal life.
Therefore, they rejoice exceedingly with the angels.
Through their supplications, bestow great mercy upon Your people.
- I have waited for You as You have commanded; my soul patiently relies on Your promise,* for it has trusted in the Lord.
What honour and praise can fittingly be ascribed to the saints?
They bowed their necks under the sword for You, who left the heavens and came down.
They shed their blood for You, who emptied Yourself taking the form of a servant.
By emulating Your poverty, they humbled themselves unto death.
By their prayers, have mercy on us, O Lord, according to Your great compassion.
In Tone 2
- From the morning watch until night* let Israel trust in the Lord.
Come, all you friends of the martyrs,
let us celebrate this feast in the joy of the Spirit;
for, on this day, the holy martyr Theodore prepares a spiritual banquet for us,
the lovers of the feast;
he brings joy to our hearts,
and we cry out to him:
Rejoice, invincible warrior, who has vanquished powerful tyrants;
and for the love of Christ our God,
you gave given over your body of flesh to torments.
Rejoice, for in the midst of dangers,
you showed yourself to be a valiant soldier of the heavenly army.
Therefore, we pray to you, O glory of martyrs,
intercede for the salvation of our souls.
- For with the Lord there is mercy, and with Him there is plentiful redemption;* and He shall redeem Israel from all its iniquities.
O holy martyr Theodore,
you generously grant the God-given grace of your miracles
to all the faithful who hasten to you.
We rejoice in this, and we sing:
You are the liberator of captives and healer of the sick,
the wealth of the poor and salvation of those who sail the seas,
the defender of those who cherish your holy memory;
now, for all of us who praise you,
beseech Christ for His great mercy.
- Praise the Lord, all the nations;* proclaim His glory, all you people.
O holy martyr Theodore,
you are truly the “gift of God,”
for, being alive even after your death,
you are attentive to the requests of those who come to you.
A son was once seized from his mother
and made a prisoner in the pagan army;
the widow bathed your sanctuary with her tears;
and you were moved with compassion.
You mounted a white horse and mysteriously returned her child;
and even now, you do not cease to work miracles.
Beseech Christ our God to save our souls.
- Strong is the love of the Lord for us;* eternally will His truth endure.
O Theodore, thrice-blessed,
with your name, I praise the gift of God;
you are a shining torch of the divine brightness.
By your deeds you have illuminated the universe.
You have shown yourself to be stronger than fire,
and you crushed the head of the treacherous dragon.
Therefore, Christ has placed on your head the crown of victory.
And now that you enjoy the divine favour,
O holy and great martyr,
beseech God for the salvation of our souls.
In Tone 6, Glory…
The enemy used the apostate emperor as his servant
against the Christian people who were purified by the Fast;
he tried to defile them with food polluted by the blood of sacrifices.
But, you more wisely foiled his plan,
by appearing in a dream to the bishop of that time
and warning him of the danger.
We also offer you our sacrifices of thanksgiving,
and we honour you with the title of protector
as we celebrate the annual memory of this event.
We beseech you to preserve us from the evil designs of the enemy
by interceding with God for us,
O holy martyr Theodore.
In Tone 8, Now…
Out of His love for mankind
the King of heaven appeared on earth and dwelt with men,
for He assumed a human body from the pure Virgin
and was seen in the flesh He received from her.
He is the One and only God having two natures but not two persons.
Wherefore we profess and declare the truth that Christ our God is perfect God and perfect Man.
O Mother, who knew not carnal union,
intercede with Him that He may have mercy on our souls.
Prokeimenon I, Tone 5
May the Lord answer in time of trial;* may the name of Jacob’s God protect you!
verse: May He send you help from His shrine and give you support from Sion!
Reading I
Genesis 2:20-3:20
Prokeimenon II, Tone 6
O Lord, arise in Your strength;* we shall sing and praise Your power.
verse: O Lord, Your strength gives joy to the king; how Your saving help makes him glad!
Reading II
Proverbs 3:19-34